During the last Foire du Valais, an ambitious project was launched on the initiative of The Ark Foundation. Over the 10 days of the fair, a monumental work of art, designed by Fichtre, artist and professor at EDHEA in Sierre, was knitted in the heart of the new Innothèque space on a machine from the SME Steiger. Meter by meter, the ‘made in Valais’ machine created this work of art, which was then assembled and exhibited for visitors to the Fair. Let’s take a look back at this large-scale project, which showcased Valais’ expertise in both art and technology.

Key figures for the project

• 4 colours
• 19 m² of knitting in 10 panels
• 2,680,000 stitches knitted in 10 days
• 77,800 kilometres of yarn, almost twice the circumference of the Earth
• 25 hours of knitting on the machine
• Approximately 2,500 staples to assemble the work

This unique project combined art, technology, innovation and training. It aimed to show the general public aspects of Valais that are still little known: artistic and design skills as well as technological and industrial know-how. It was therefore obvious for The Ark (the Foundation for Innovation in Valais) to actively accompany and support this initiative. Thanks to the visibility offered by the Foire du Valais, the project reached a wide audience.

Final work unveiled at the Foire du Valais

The work by artist Mathias Forbach (alias Fichtre) represents a certain vision of the creation of an idea and innovation. It measures 7.5 metres wide by 2.5 metres high. Each day of the Fair, Steiger’s high-tech machine produced one tenth of the final painting. Each strip knitted during the day was hoisted and displayed to the public, until the complete work was formed on the last day of the Foire du Valais.

‘Seeing the work of one of our teachers produced using high-tech Valais technology and presented on a grand scale at the Foire du Valais is a source of particular pride for our school. It is a source of inspiration for our pupils and students, and above all it allows us to show the different possible applications of design and art,’ explains Jean-Paul Felley, director of EDHEA.

Ultimate customisation for knitting

The work was knitted on a ‘Libra’ machine, developed and manufactured by the Steiger company in Vionnaz. “What we want to demonstrate are the possibilities offered by our technology. We are able to produce customised compression bandages for severe burns, particularly for the medical field. This is the first time our machine will be used to create a complete work of art, and we are looking forward to seeing the final result,” says Pierre-Yves Bonvin, director of Steiger.

A true showcase of Valais craftsmanship, this work will continue to be displayed after the Foire du Valais. It is currently on display in Steiger’s showroom in Vionnaz and will later be exhibited at various locations around the country.